TRAINING WORKSHOP ON FOREST (CARBON) INVENTORY TECHNIQUES AND DATA COLLECTION ORGANISED BY FOOD AND AGRICUTURE ORGANISATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS (FAO)/NIGERIA REDD+ PROGRAMME HELD ON THE 11TH -15TH DECEMBER, 2017 AT ROYAL BIRDS HOTEL AND TOWERS AKURE, ONDO STATE NIGERIA.
AIM OF THE TRAINING: The training workshop was aimed at exposing participants to the forest (Carbon) inventory techniques and data collection in the field using modern equipment.
OBJECTIVES:
1. To enable the participants to present a draft National Forest inventory Methodology.
2. To get the participants familiarised and master how to use the modern equipment in the field.
3. To understand forest sampling techniques and methodologies as well the terrain/challenges thereof before/during after data collection.
Participants were drawn from different angle along the value chain of reducing emission from deforestation and forest degradation, these included; staff of the National REDD+ Project Secretariat, Federal and State Departments of forestry and Forests Communities from Cross river, Nassarawa, Ondo and States, Academias and NGO’s
The Dr. Moses Ama, the National Coordinator gave a quick background of the Nigeria REDD+ programme and the justification for its implementation in Nigeria. He said the menace of deforestation and forest degradation couple with insufficient/lack of reliable data to checkmate that lead Nigeria to the UN REDD+ Programme. He emphasized on the importance of Geographical Information System and remote sensing as key areas for the success of the programme. He therefore urged participants to pay attention as the success of the Nigerian Forest (Carbon) inventory depends solely on what they would learn during the training workshop.
This was followed by a welcome said by Alhaji Rasheed Badmus, the Honourable commissioner for Natural Resources, Ondo State. He commended the efforts of the World Bank and that of FAO at expanding the REDD+ readiness activities to Ondo and Nasarawa States. He said the readiness to undertake a nation-wide forest inventory as a precursor to the establishment of Forest Reference emission Levels [FRELs] and National Forest Monitoring System [NFMS] in order to Monitor, Report and Verify results of REDD+ activities in Nigeria was commendable.
Some of the Instruments Used During the Data Collection Included:
(A) Criterion RD100 - This functions as relascope for measuring tree heights above the ground level, diameter at various points and along the stem, borderline trees determination, etc.
(B) Trupulse 200B; which is use for measuring horizontal distance and it is Bluetooth enhanced for easy information transfer.
(C) Haglof dendrometre; used in measuring tree total height as well the bole height with the help of Trupulse.
(D) Handheld Vanier Calliper; used in measuring trees with DBH less than 10cm.
Team composition and selection of field team leaders:
Four teams were formed and based on previous field experience; three team leaders were nominated for each team. Each group cleaned up the field data collected and prepared few PowerPoint slides for presentation.
The 4 groups outlined almost similar challenges encountered during the field work and recommended that proper planning, improved logistics and time management are panacea for getting accurate forest carbon data collection vis a vice the forest carbon inventory in Nigeria.
The votes of thanks was given by Barrister Adesina; Director of Forestry Ondo State Ministry of Natural Resources. The closing remark was done by Dr. Moses Ama, the National Coordinator.